U.S. Senate candidates in Massachusetts spar on abortion, gay marriage

Source: Reuters

U.S. Senate candidates in Massachusetts spar on abortion, gay marriage
Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:18 GMT
Source: reuters // Reuters
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By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Mass., March 27 (Reuters) - The five candidates running for Massachusetts' open seat in the U.S. Senate sparred on social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and gay marriage in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

But even those who took more conservative stances tried to draw a line between their personal beliefs and existing laws, in a nod to the liberal views of many of the New England state's voters.

On the Republican side, former Boston U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan was the one candidate to express opposition both to abortion and gay marriage - the latter issue the topic of Supreme Court arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Massachusetts in 2003 became the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch said he opposed abortion, though he said he regarded the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized it, as "established law" not likely to be overturned.


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